The compressive strength, flexural strength, and split tensile strength of Reactive Powder concrete are all investigated in this study (RPC). The lack of ductility in ordinary concrete is considered a key concern in this research. RPC is being explored as a solution for the aforementioned challenge as the building industry's technology advances. Cement, sand, water, admixture, and superplasticizer are all included in the RPC. The reactive powder concrete mixture is made by changing the percentages of super plasticizer (2%, 3% and 4%), silica fumes (10%, 20%, and 30%), while maintaining the dose of quartz powder constant. At the outset of this study, compressive strength, flexural strength, and split tensile strength targets of 140-160Mpa, 20-30Mpa, and 15-20Mpa were set. However, due to a change in material qualities that were locally accessible and of low quality, the results produced after the investigation were unsatisfactory to get the findings, the RPC was mixed, cast, cured, and tested in the concrete laboratory using three different mix proportions. 150mmX150mmX150mm cube, 500mmX100mmX100mm beam, and 150mm diameter and 300mm height cylinder are all made of fresh concrete. The casted RPC is then cured in a water tank at room temperature for 7, 14, and 28 days before being oven dried for 24 hours at 60 degrees Celsius. The final results were documented and discussed, as well as conclusions and recommendations based on the findings.

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EXPERIMENTAL STUDY ON MECHANICAL PROPERTIES AND DURABILITY
OF REACTIVE POWDER CONCRETE
Mr. Prasad Bogar*1, Prof. Shashank U. Vanakudari*2
*1Student M.Tech (Construction Technology), Jain College Of Engineering,
Dist- Belagavi-590014, India.
*2Asst. Professor (CIVIL DEPT), Jain College Of Engineering, Dist- Belagavi-590014, India.
ABSTRACT
The compressive strength, flexural strength, and split tensile strength of Reactive Powder concrete are all
investigated in this study (RPC). The lack of ductility in ordinary concrete is considered a key concern in this
research. RPC is being explored as a solution for the aforementioned challenge as the building industry's
technology advances. Cement, sand, water, admixture, and superplasticizer are all included in the RPC. The
reactive powder concrete mixture is made by changing the percentages of super plasticizer (2%, 3% and 4%),
silica fumes (10%, 20%, and 30%), while maintaining the dose of quartz powder constant. At the outset of this
study, compressive strength, flexural strength, and split tensile strength targets of 140-160Mpa, 20-30Mpa, and
15-20Mpa were set. However, due to a change in material qualities that were locally accessible and of low
quality, the results produced after the investigation were unsatisfactory to get the findings, the RPC was mixed,
cast, cured, and tested in the concrete laboratory using three different mix proportions.
150mmX150mmX150mm cube, 500mmX100mmX100mm beam, and 150mm diameter and 300mm height
cylinder are all made of fresh concrete. The casted RPC is then cured in a water tank at room temperature for 7,
14, and 28 days before being oven dried for 24 hours at 60 degrees Celsius. The final results were documented
and discussed, as well as conclusions and recommendations based on the findings.
Keywords: Reactive Powder Concrete, Rapid Chloride Penetration Test, Ultra-High Performance Fiber-
Reinforced Concrete, High Early Strength, Ordinary Portland Cement.
I. INTRODUCTION
Reactive Powder Concrete (RPC) is a type of ultra-high-strength concrete that was created in France in the
1990s. The concrete is very eminent for its high ductile and mechanical quality which is required for ultra high
strength concrete. The resistance of concrete is good towards flexural and compressive failure. The material
which are used in this concrete are Ordinary Portland Cement (53 grade), river sand or silica sand, fine
particles of Quartz and fibers (Steel). The compressive strength of 200Mpa is achieved by RPC when compared
to HPC which is 75Mpa. The addition of steel fibers to the RPC increases the strength upto 800Mpa. The RPC
shows zero permeation characteristics because of improved properties of microstructure and discontinuous
pore structure. Therefore, RPC does not allow penetration of chloride ion and carbonation and no sulphate
attack. We can also use RPC in prestressed and prefabricated due to its lower shrinkage and creep. The
performance of RPC is durable to aggressive atmosphere or acidic environments due to acid rain. Every latest
material which is incorporated in the construction practices it must be evaluated depending upon durability
and strength properties.
The durability is a very good property which is very difficult to measure in quantitative terms. It includes the
physical properties of materials, design, construction, environment and maintenance. Durability is also defined
as the ability of a material to remain serviceable with prudent maintenance during a normal life span in the
intended environment i.e., to retain physical, chemical and visual performance characteristics within a
reasonable tolerance for an economic life expectancy when properly designed, build and maintained.
Building materials deteriorate owing to a variety of physical, chemical, and biological causes, as well as
environmental circumstances. The atmospheric pollutants responsible for the above matter include carbon
dioxide, sulphur, nitrogen oxide, hydrogen sulphide and ammonia. The impurities like salts, carbonates and
nitrates are also equally responsible. The contaminants cause chemical deterioration and physical
disintegration of building materials. The present study mainly focuses on the physical and chemical factors

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[836]
which is responsible for the decay of RPC. The detailed examination of the decay of durability characteristics of
RPC under different environmental pollutants have been taken up in this present study.
In this study, the specimens are subjected to compressive, Split tensile and flexural test experiment to know the
mechanical characteristics of the RPC. The study also considers RPC permeation resistance when specimens are
exposed to chloride penetration, i.e., the Rapid Chloride Penetration Test (RCPT) experiment, in order to
determine RPC durability.
Physical characteristics such as split tensile strength, flexural strength, and compressive strength of RPC have
all been examined since durability is a physical phenomena that is difficult to define by any one metric.
Compressive strength, split tensile strength, and flexural strength all rise as the cure period lengthens.
II. OBJECTIVES
1. To prepare the mix design of Reactive Powder Concrete.
2. To study the durability aspects of RPC without steel fibers.
3. To study the mechanical aspects of RPC without steel fibers.
4. To conduct durability test i.e., Rapid Chloride Penetration Test (RCPT).
5. To conduct mechanical test i.e., Compressive test, Flexural test and Split tensile test.
III. METHODOLOGY
A. MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF CONCRETE
Collect all the raw material and mix it gently according to the mentioned ratios. The mix should be homogenous.
The test to be conducted on each specimen is a destructive one for the determination of compressive strength,
flexural strength and split tensile strength. Separate specimens to be used for different observation periods. For
each trial there are three grades of concrete. Each trial contains 9 samples which include 3 cubes (15cm X 15cm
X 15cm), 3 cylinders (15cm dia. & 30cm height) and 3 beams (50cm X 10cm X 10cm). To keep proper record,
the samples were numbered with water proof permanent marker and initial weight before immersion is taken.
The specimen is kept for Pond curing for a period of 7, 14, 28 days.
Figure 1: Methodology Flowchart

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B. Rapid Chloride Penetration Test (RCPT)
One of the most common cause of concrete structural degradation is chloride induced corrosion. The corrosion
is produced by chloride ions penetrating the concrete and finally reaching the steel reinforcing. Chloride
permeation is a complicated process involving a variety of transmission modes including chloride ion diffusion
and chloride movement by water penetration into concrete. The primary transport mode in saturated concrete
at normal pressure is likely to be molecular or ionic diffusion, according to the findings. Rapid chlorine
penetration can be used to assess the durability of concrete in terms of chloride permeation.
Figure 2: Schematic diagram of RCPT Setup
C. The Mix Proportion for RPC with 0.2 water-cement ratio
Cement
Kg/m³
Silica fume
Kg/m³
Silica Sand
Kg/m³
Quartz
Powder
Kg/m³
Superplasticizer
Kg/m³
Water
Kg/m³
1000 150 896.74 50 23 247.93
IV. RESULTS
A) Flow table test and V-funnel test results
B) Compressive strength test results
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
2%SP10%SF 3%SP20%SF 4%SP30%SF
7 DAYS 69.47 85.74 108.88
14 DAYS 74.26 95.55 118.96
28 DAYS 80.44 102.22 127.84
Compressive
strength
(Mpa)
Test types W/C Percentage of super
plasticizer
(%)
Limits
(Standards)
Final values achieved
4% 3% 2%
Flow table test 0.2 2 3 4 650-850 mm 760 mm 700 mm 670 mm
V-Funnel test 0.2 2 3 4 14-44 seconds 28 sec 35 sec 41 sec

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C) Flexural strength test results
D) Split-Tensile strength test results
E) RCPT results
Samples W/C ratio Charges passed
(Coulombs)
Average charges
passed (Coulombs)
Chloride ion
permeability
RPC A 0.2
82
82 Negligible
78
86
RPC B 2.1
116
112 Very Low
112
108
V. CONCLUSION
1. The RPC is stated to be practical since it can be made using locally accessible ingredients such as silica sand,
silica fume, quartz powder, superplasticizer and so on.
2. RPC is a high strength composite material that may be utilized to construct bridges, barriers and other
structures. RPC can be utilized as a low-level radioactive barrier in nuclear power plants where the majority
of the surface is exposed to contaminants.
3. Adding steel fibers to RPC enhances its strength, although equivalent strength was attained in our work
without utilizing steel fibers.
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
2%SP10%SF 3%SP20%SF 4%SP30%SF
7 DAYS 12.2 13.38 14.64
14 DAYS 12.62 13.88 15.14
28 DAYS 13.02 14.18 15.68
Flexural
strength
(
Mpa
)
0
5
10
15
2%SP10%S
F
3%SP20%S
F
4%SP30%S
F
7 DAYS 7.16 8.13 9.05
14 DAYS 7.46 8.36 9.83
28 DAYS 7.73 8.72 10.08
Split
Tensile
strength
(
Mpa
)

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4. Compressive strength of approximately 127.84Mpa, flexural strength of about 15.68Mpa and split tensile
strength of about 10.08Mpa were all attained after 28days of curing in this project.
5. According to the RCPT, chloride penetration is minimal at lower water cement ratios compared to higher
water cement ratios.
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